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I will be making the trip to Columbia next week with a couple of buddies of mine and wanted to see what the tailgating etiquette is like in SC. Being that this is my first away SEC game, I want to make sure that it is done right.

(Stating the obvious, we will not be disrespectful to your University, Alumni and fellow tailgaters. We want to have a great time!)

Any suggestions on things to do in regards to pregame?

How soon does pregame start for a 6 pm kickoff?

In my group, we are avid drinkers, do ya'll do any recreational beer pong, flip cup, corn hole... drinking games before the games? If so, would you all accept new challengers perhaps? ;)

We would like to join an SC tailgate with a charitable donation $$$, of course, or coolers of beer. Are there any rules in the tailgating area regarding alcohol on the premises?

If we were to show up with some 8 - 10 cases of beer, would we be frowned upon from crashing a tailgate?

Any information is greatly appreciated and we look forward to visiting you next week.

Gig'em!

Ags 35 - SC 31 (unless of course you have the "Wheel Route" in the playbook!)

You can drink all you want across the street from the stadium. Smoking may cause you some problems though. I don't think you will have a problem "crashing" a tailgate bringing that much beer. I don't really consider that crashing. Crashing is when people show up with nothing which happens all the time. I would probably bring something a little stronger than beer though, easier to carry.

I typically do not take liquor to games because the good stuff is usually in glass bottles, are there any restrictions towards glass bottles in the tailgating areas?

Are there restaurants or bars close to the stadium?

There's a Bojangles, which has fried chicken. Pretty good food for a tailgate. Other than that, there's not much in regards to an actual dining restaurant. Most good bars are in the vista. Check out world of beer while you're in town. On another note, if you bring 8-10 cases you'll be welcomed anywhere.

Good info_thanks! For the A&M/USC game it looks like the gates open at noon per gamecockparking.com Nice pic on traffic flows as well.

This is going to be a long ass 6 days.

Yes, but its gonan be awesome. And do us a favor, dont ask Clemson fans what they think about South Carolina fans and columbia, because no matter if they had a good time or bad time they'll tell you it was awful. Look forward to having yall in Columbia hope its a good one.

on a Thursday? I don't think they'll be open at that time. Traffic definitely wouldn't be much of a problem except people going to lunch. When does the fairgrounds open? 3pm?

The Fairgrounds parking lots always open 5 hours before night games and 4 hours before noon games. They should be open at 1. Since this is a Thursday game, if you get there early you won't have a problem with traffic. It's less than 2 miles from the heart of the Vista to the stadium - just go straight down Assembly Street and turn right on Rosewood. the Fairgrounds' game day lost will be about a block on the left after you turn onto Rosewood. There are other lots in the area, too, but for one time parking I think that's the best bet. Pickup your food and beer in the Vista before heading to the stadium as there aren't a lot of restaurants adjacent to the stadium. There are a couple of bars and a couple of fast food restaurants with more on the way there.

I typically do not take liquor to games because the good stuff is usually in glass bottles, are there any restrictions towards glass bottles in the tailgating areas?

Are there restaurants or bars close to the stadium?

You'll see some tailgater that have full stocked bars. There are no restrictions on glass where I tailgate. The one thing that I noticed about our tailgating that is so well enforced is that everyone picks up after themselves. I have been to a few other schools and it looks like a bomb blew up at the dump after the game.

Have a great time. You'll meet a lot of great people mixed in with your occasional dick weed.